Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2009
38 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current and future deployment overseas locations for the Defence Forces; the extent to which his attention has been drawn to future requirements in this regard at EU and UN level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/09]
Amharc ar fhreagra144 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number and location of overseas deployments in respect of the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the number pending; if all such deployments in the field are adequate in strength to be self sufficient in terms of security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42483/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 144 together.
Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. Ireland is currently contributing 761 Defence Forces personnel to 12 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel (including breakdown by services) currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement.
The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) with 420 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 237 personnel and the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALTHEA, with 44 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO. Ireland is currently committed to MINURCAT until mid-March 2010, to KFOR until April 2010 and to Operation ALTHEA until December 2009.
The Defence Forces conduct a threat assessment on mission areas and all deployments meet the requirements of security and force protection for all personnel integrated into the overall mission requirement. The Defence Forces are self sufficient in large troop deployment missions in terms of force protection and security and are integrated into the overall force protection and security plans of all other missions. With regard to future deployments, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.
|
Number |
||
|
1. |
UN Missions |
|
|
(i) |
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
8 |
|
(ii) |
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) — Israel, Syria and Lebanon |
12 |
|
(iii) |
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
(iv) |
MONUC (United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo) |
3 |
|
(v) |
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
(vi) |
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — HQ |
13 |
|
MINURCAT (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad) — 101st Inf Battalion |
407 |
|
|
TOTAL |
448 |
|
|
UN Mandated Missions |
||
|
(vii) |
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
44 |
|
(viii) |
EUNAVFOR (EU-led Operation Atalanta) OHQ - UK |
1 |
|
(ix) |
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) — HQ |
20 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) 41st Inf Group |
217 |
|
|
(x) |
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
737 |
|
|
2. |
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) |
|
|
(i) |
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
(ii) |
OSCE Mission in Belgrade — Serbia |
1 |
|
(iii) |
Staff Officer, Higher Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
4 |
|
|
3. |
EU Military Staff |
|
|
Brussels |
7 |
|
|
4. |
Nordic Battlegroup HQ Staff — Sweden |
4 |
|
5. |
Military Representatives/Advisers/Staff |
|
|
(i) |
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
(ii) |
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
(iii) |
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
(iv) |
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
(v) |
Military Representative to NATO/PfP Co-ordination Cell/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons. Belgium |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
761 |
|
|
Breakdown Of Total Number By Service |
||
|
Army |
730 |
|
|
Air Corps |
21 |
|
|
Naval Service |
10 |
|
|
Total |
761 |
